Riders on Sound Transit's popular Sounder Commuter Rail service will have more flexibility and more options with a new schedule that goes into affect on Monday June 7, 2004.

"We listened to our customers," said Sound Transit Board Chair/Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "They told us they wanted expanded departure times on the Seattle-Tacoma line and an earlier morning departure from Everett. We've been able to work with our partner, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, to improve the schedule at both ends of the line."

The earlier morning departure from Everett will make it easier for commuters to get to work by 8 a.m. Sound Transit also adjusted the evening Sounder train northbound so commuters to Edmonds can connect with the ferry service there.

"This is the next step toward expanding ridership on the Seattle-Everett line," said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl. "Our customers told us from the beginning that we'd see more riders if we could get them to Seattle in time for an 8 o'clock start at work."

For the time being, Tacoma passengers will continue to arrive and depart from the temporary platform east of the Tacoma Dome Parking Garages while monitoring and improvements continue along the new section of track to Tacoma Dome Station.

Throughout its north and south corridors, Sound Transit is making major investments to improve track signals, stations and grade crossings. The completion of the track and signal improvements in the south corridor opened the way for the June 7 expanded service window.

These investments are improving the region's transportation infrastructure and increasing the speed and reliability of Sounder, Amtrak and freight trains. Another benefit of the track and signal improvements on the Tacoma-Seattle line will be fewer Sounder delays by freight traffic.